On June 10, 2021, the same day that it released its long-anticipated COVID-19 emergency temporary standard (ETS) for healthcare settings (which we discuss here), the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)...more
On June 10, 2021, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released the first nationwide emergency workplace safety rule per President Joe Biden’s January executive order directing the agency to pursue an...more
On May 28, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its “What you should know about COVID-19” Frequently Asked Questions (the FAQs), answering questions many employers have had regarding COVID-19...more
On May 13, 2021, the CDC updated its guidance for fully vaccinated individuals (Vaccination Guidance), stating that fully vaccinated people (fully vaccinated means two weeks after receiving a second dose of the Moderna or...more
On April 21, 2021, both houses of the New York Legislature announced passage of the NY Hero Act, which will require employers to implement extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19...more
4/29/2021
/ Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
NYDOL ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health ,
Workplace Safety
On April 20, 2021, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated its FAQs with guidance stating that employers who require their employees to get vaccinated as a condition of employment may need to...more
4/22/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Public Health ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On April 6, 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh placed a “hold” on the implementation of a potential U.S. Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which would set...more
As we previously discussed, New York passed legislation on March 12, 2021 to provide employees in the state with up to four hours of paid leave for each COVID-19 vaccination injection they receive. On March 21, 2021 ...more
As employers are revising their return to work protocols in light of increased vaccination efforts and the prospect of increased on-site work, the federal government has been busy implementing additional COVID-19 safety...more
As employers are revising their return to work protocols in light of increased vaccination efforts and the prospect of increased on-site work, the federal government has been busy implementing additional COVID-19 safety...more
The New York State Legislature recently passed bills (Bill S2588A; A3354B) that would provide all public and private employees in New York with up to four hours of paid leave to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. ...more
The New York State Legislature recently passed bills (Bill S2588A; A3354B) that would provide all public and private employees in New York with up to four hours of paid leave to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. The legislation is...more
3/9/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Vaccinations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Companies in the life sciences and health care industry, like most companies, navigated unparalleled challenges in 2020. But unlike other industries, they had to do so while simultaneously facing the biggest challenge of all...more
In Tuesday's Report: An overview of EU and German financing measures for companies responding to COVID-19; U.S. passes relief legislation affecting surprise billing; U.K. traveler bans; an analysis of key considerations in...more
On December 16, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 guidance to address COVID-19 vaccines in the workplace. The EEOC’s guidance implies that a mandatory workplace vaccination program...more
12/18/2020
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
GINA ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Title VII ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
On Friday June 26, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued clarification guidance regarding the availability of Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) leave. Specifically, the DOL stated that FFCRA leave is equally...more
As employers across the country are implementing return to work procedures and are gradually opening up their workspaces, many employers were left with unanswered questions regarding what testing they may conduct prior to...more
As New York enters a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and New York businesses are beginning to reopen, New York is taking steps and providing tools to employers in an attempt to mitigate further spread of COVID-19....more
6/9/2020
/ Commercial Property Owners ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Executive Orders ,
Liability ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Retailers ,
Screening Procedures ,
State and Local Government ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
As New York enters a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and New York businesses are beginning to reopen, New York is taking steps and providing tools to employers in an attempt to mitigate further spread of COVID-19.
...more
On May 19, 2020, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued Revised Enforcement Guidance (Guidance) requiring employers to investigate whether employee COVID-19 infections are “work-related” for the...more
As the world learns how to navigate the new normal, businesses have become accustomed to dealing with what used to be considered exceptional – managing mass shut-downs, disrupted supply chains, the collapse of demand, and the...more
5/12/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
OSHA ,
Price Gouging ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Rent ,
Rental Property ,
Retail Market ,
Social Distancing ,
Supply Chain ,
Telecommuting ,
Workplace Safety
In an important development for critical workforces that continue to operate, as well as businesses planning to reopen, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has advised employers that they may administer...more
4/24/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Preventive Health Care ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Workplace Safety
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will begin issuing industry-specific guidance to protect American workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance to date has been in the form of “tips” rather than...more
Employers are understandably concerned about the possibility of being forced to furlough or lay off employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have covered some of the relevant considerations including the Families First...more
Governor Cuomo is sent new legislation related to the Coronavirus to New York State lawmakers yesterday. The legislation would protect employees who are required to stay home from work because they are being isolated or...more
3/10/2020
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Best Practices ,
Business Continuity Plans ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Medical Leave ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Risk Management ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety